Product Care

QUICK CARE TIPS FOR DUVET COVERS:

* For dark colours, soak initially inside out in cold water, adding a tablespoon of salt to prevent dyes running. (Note: Soak in your laundry tub, not washing machine as salt will damage the machine’s bowl.)

* In general, wash inside out in cold water using liquid detergent. Hanging on the line inside out in the shade will help prevent colour fading and bleeding. (Note: Liquid detergent cannot be used in front loading washing machines.)

* Washing alone will avoid pilling.

* Always wash matching covers and pillowcases together to ensure the colours always match.

A-Z STAIN REMOVAL TIPS:

Beer: Soak in a solution of 3 parts cool water / 1 part white vinegar.

Blood: Soak for several hours in a solution of 1tsp salt / 600mL water, then rinse and soak in a solution of 1 part ammonia / 5 parts water. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker.

Candlewax: Scrape away as much as possible. Place stain between layers of absorbent paper and press with a warm iron, changing the paper as it becomes soiled. Sponge residue with meths.

Chewing gum: Freeze with ice and break off as much as possible. Treat the residue with turps and wash in hot soapy water.

Coffee/tea: Soak in warm water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker. Lubricate old stains first with glycerine.

Deodorants/antiperspirants: Sponge or soak in a solution of 1Tbsp ammonia/1 cup warm water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Treat residual traces with turps.

Egg: Use an enzyme-based laundry detergent on washables. For non-washables, dry with a paper towel, then lightly sponge with a solution of 1tsp white vinegar / 3tsp dishwashing detergent / 1 cup warm water. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker.

Fats & oils: Sprinkle with talc, leave for 30 minutes then scoop off. Lubricate older stains with mechanics' hand-cleaner or glycerine, then sponge with dishwashing detergent and warm water. Treat residual stains with turps.

Fruit/fruit juice: Sponge or soak in warm water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker. Treat residual stains with meths.

Glue: Soak cellulose-based glues in cold water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker. Meths works on PVA. Other glues may only respond to nail polish remover: spot test first.

Grass: Sponge with meths, dry, then soak in water with a squirt of dishwashing detergent. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker.

Hair spray: Sponge with meths.

Ink (ballpoint pen): Sponge with meths, then rinse thoroughly in cold water. Repeat as necessary.

Ink (liquid & marker): Remove excess with absorbent paper. Sponge or dip in a solution of equal parts meths and ammonia (spot test on coloured fabrics first). Rinse in warm water.

Lipstick/makeup: Treat with meths, then soak in a solution of 5 parts dishwashing detergent / 1 part ammonia. Rinse thoroughly.

Mildew/mould: Treat white cotton or linen with a mixture of 1Tbsp chlorine bleach / 1L warm soapy water. On coloured fabrics dilute the bleach even more, and be prepared for some fading. See Removing mould or moss for more tips.

Milk/cream/ice cream: Soak in warm water and dishwashing detergent. Or try a pre-wash laundry soaker. Treat residual fat stains with turps.

Motor oil Scrape away as much as possible and sponge with turps. For washable fabrics rub glycerine into the stain. Rinse under a hot tap, then soak in water with dishwashing detergent.

Nail polish: Treat non-synthetic fabrics with nail polish remover (spot test first). Treat any residual marks with meths.

Paint (oil-based): Scrape off as much as possible and sponge residue with turps. If paint has dried, soften with glycerine first.

Paint (water-based & latex): Wash away fresh paint with cold water. Remove residue with meths. Once dry these paints are virtually impossible to remove.

Perfume: Apply glycerine, then soak in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

Perspiration: Sponge with a solution of 1 part ammonia / 5 parts water, then rinse. Follow up by soaking in a solution of 1 part white vinegar / 3 parts water.

Tomato sauce: Sponge with dishwashing detergent, then rinse. Treat residue with meths.

Urine: Soak in a solution of 1 part ammonia / 5 parts water, followed by a solution of 1 part white vinegar / 3 parts water. Or use a nappy soaker.

Varnish: Sponge with turps or nail polish remover.

Wine (red): Flush with lots of cold water, then pour salt on the stain, and let it stand for an hour. Scrape off the salt and rinse thoroughly.

Stain guide supplied by "Consumer Online" www.consumer.org.nz